Case Studies

Case studies of the work we do

Staff Wellbeing Packs

Orbit housing

The project was to supply 1,250 staff members with Christmas wellbeing packs. The specification was to provide the greatest social impact with the packs, their contents, the way they were packed and delivered. They also demonstrated the work Orbit had done with us over the previous year.

What was in the UK-manufactured, Fairtrade, ethical Christmas hampers

Orbit Group asked us to produce a hamper of products that would show their staff just how grateful they are to have such an incredible team. They also wanted to send a message about just how committed the organisation is to building better communities.  

So, we created a hamper which demonstrated our shared values and showed support for local products, social enterprises, co-operatives, SMEs and UK businesses. The hamper was also carbon-positive, plastic-free and as ecological and waste-free as possible. 

We sourced all the outer packaging from companies based in areas Orbit is active in. With the second lockdown, this wasn’t easy, but we were proud to produce a Christmas gift from places which mean something to Orbit, which support local businesses and which make a difference to people’s lives.

The outer wrap envelope was from Birmingham, while the bespoke gift box was designed by us and created in South Warwickshire. No metals were used in the printing, making it fully biodegradable. The protective cover was from Bexley and was made using UK post-consumer waste (PCW). All printed materials were sourced and produced in Norwich using vegan ink and B Corp supply chains. Even the tissue paper was unique: acid-free, biodegradable and made with vegan ink.

So, what’s in the gift box?

Goupie – 10 minutes down the A21 from Orbit’s Davit House Project is Goupie, a chocolatier which creates incredible vegan and gluten-free treats. This little taste of Christmas is a feast of festive flavours. Rich dried fruits, roasted nuts, citrus peel and exotic Christmas spices. We’re talking all the flavour of a mince pie in a luxurious little chocolate. These treats are best served with a warm glass of mulled wine.

A hop, skip and a jump away from Ilkes Modular Housing Factory, which makes modular homes for the Wellesbourne Project, is Steenbergs.  

Steenbergs is the ethical and Fairtrade spice supplier which created the Fairtrade mulled wine spices in a reusable calico bag.

A little further down the road is Hull, landing spot for Divine Chocolate, the women-owned cocoa company which supports small farmers in Ghana. Divine’s story is an inspiring one, of women protecting their community by ignoring the multi-nationals and creating their own brand and bars from their products. Fairtrade, and a tasting pack put together especially for the hamper.

As a highlander, Bruce was very keen that Orbit also had a taste of northern goodness. Kirsty at Angelic creates the tastiest gluten-free cookies in all the land, all from her kitchen in Inverness. Expect wild flavours of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves balanced with the sharpness of cranberry. Kirsty apologises for using the only piece of plastic in the hamper but there was no other way to keep them fresh.

Back in London, Emily, the urban gardener and founder of Seedball,is on a mission to make the world a friendlier place for bees and butterflies. She created the pellets in the matchbox which will help even the least green-fingered grow wildflowers, helping conserve the natural world in even the most urban of environments. We told all recipients that we’d love them to send us photos of their wildflowers to team@ethstat.com

 

Nemi Teas, a social enterprise, provides employment to refugees to give them local work experience and job readiness skills to enter the UK workforce, helping them integrate into broader society. All its tea bags are plastic-free, the packaging is biodegradable, and the teas are organic, Fairtrade, and Rainforest-Alliance certified.

A few minutes away from Orbit South’s offices in Hastings, is

A few minutes away from Orbit South’s offices in Hastings, is Wedding In A Teacup. Mum of four-year-old Fin and one-year-old Romy, WIAT’s founder, Hester, is fanatical about all things pretty. She personally chooses each product, stock and the designs. The five women who make WIAT each had a hand in designing, printing and filling the sunflower seeds in the hamper. Again, we asked all recipients to send us photos so we could see whose grew the tallest!

Finally, the Orbit Star, the Christmas decoration chosen to remind each and every employee that they were a star in 2020. Handmade in India by a Fairtrade factory which supports the ostracised Dalit people, the untouchables of India.

In 2020, Orbit did incredible work making procurement decisions that helped thousands of people in the most desperate of situations. It seemed only fitting that the ‘Star’ itself did the same and is a decoration which can be reused again and again.

Happy Holidays Orbit, never forget – you are amazing.

What's in your UK Manufactured, Fairtrade, Ethical Christmas Hamper...

Orbit Group asked us to produce a hamper of products that would show their staff just how grateful they are to have such an incredible team. They also wanted to send a message about just how committed the organisation is to building better communities.  

So, we created a hamper which demonstrated our shared values and showed support for local products, social enterprises, co-operatives, SMEs and UK businesses. The hamper was also carbon-positive, plastic-free and as ecological and waste-free as possible. 

We sourced all the outer packaging from companies based in areas Orbit is active in. With the second lockdown, this wasn’t easy, but we were proud to produce a Christmas gift from places which mean something to Orbit, which support local businesses and which make a difference to people’s lives.

The outer wrap envelope was from Birmingham, while the bespoke gift box was designed by us and created in South Warwickshire. No metals were used in the printing, making it fully biodegradable. The protective cover was from Bexley and was made using UK post-consumer waste (PCW). All printed materials were sourced and produced in Norwich using vegan ink and B Corp supply chains. Even the tissue paper was unique: acid-free, biodegradable and made with vegan ink.

So, what’s in the gift box?

Goupie – 10 minutes down the A21 from Orbit’s Davit House Project is Goupie, a chocolatier which creates incredible vegan and gluten-free treats. This little taste of Christmas is a feast of festive flavours. Rich dried fruits, roasted nuts, citrus peel and exotic Christmas spices. We’re talking all the flavour of a mince pie in a luxurious little chocolate. These treats are best served with a warm glass of mulled wine.

 

A hop, skip and a jump away from Ilkes Modular Housing Factory, which makes modular homes for the Wellesbourne Project, is Steenbergs.  Steenbergs is the ethical and Fairtrade spice supplier which created the Fairtrade mulled wine spices in a reusable calico bag.

 

A little further down the road is Hull, home of Divine Chocolate, the women-owned cocoa company which supports small farmers in Ghana. Divine’s story is an inspiring one, of women protecting their community by ignoring the multi-nationals and creating their own brand and bars from their products. Fairtrade, and a tasting pack put together especially for the hamper.

.

As a highlander, Bruce was very keen that Orbit also had a taste of northern goodness. Kirsty at Angelic creates the tastiest gluten-free cookies in all the land, all from her kitchen in Inverness. Expect wild flavours of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves balanced with the sharpness of cranberry. Kirsty apologises for using the only piece of plastic in the hamper but there was no other way to keep them fresh.

Back in London, Emily, the urban gardener and founder of Seedball, is on a mission to make the world a friendlier place for bees and butterflies. She created the pellets in the matchbox which will help even the least green-fingered grow wildflowers, helping conserve the natural world in even the most urban of environments. We told all recipients that we’d love them to send us photos of their wildflowers to team@ethstat.com

 

 

Nemi Teas, a social enterprise, provides employment to refugees to give them local work experience and job readiness skills to enter the UK workforce, helping them integrate into broader society. All its tea bags are plastic-free, the packaging is biodegradable, and the teas are organic, Fairtrade, and Rainforest-Alliance certified.

 

A few minutes away from Orbit South’s offices in Hastings, is Wedding In A Teacup. Mum of four-year-old Fin and one-year-old Romy, WIAT’s founder, Hester, is fanatical about all things pretty. She personally chooses each product, stock and the designs. The five women who make WIAT each had a hand in designing, printing and filling the sunflower seeds in the hamper. Again, we asked all recipients to send us photos so we could see whose grew the tallest!

Finally, the Orbit Star, the Christmas decoration chosen to remind each and every employee that they were a star in 2020. Handmade in India by a Fairtrade factory which supports the ostracised Dalit people, the untouchables of India.

In 2020, Orbit did incredible work making procurement decisions that helped thousands of people in the most desperate of situations. It seemed only fitting that the ‘Star’ itself did the same and is a decoration which can be reused again and again.

Happy Holidays Orbit, never forget – you are amazing.

A hamper of mental wellbeing

2020 was a tough year for us all. For all the media attention on the rebirth of communities and the birth of a Zoom generation, our most common shared experience was of loneliness.

In building the hamper, we shared the story of one of our friends who packed the gifts. Elsa is an extraordinary and brave woman who shared her story of lockdown in the hope that it would bring feelings into the open that many of us have, but might not admit to. Elsa has a brilliant and successful day job running her own business, the award-winning and quite amazing Let It Be Cake, but everyone needs friends, connection and companionship. Even the strongest and most successful of us need others around them.

In fact, every person who worked on the hampers has struggled with mental health issues in one form or another, including me, Bruce, the author of this piece.

Elsa packed your hampers

If you, or someone you know, are struggling, we want you to know that you are not alone. My experience was to get through each day, just putting one foot in front of the last. I was lucky. I was able to talk, without fear or judgement, with the people around me, but even then, it took me years to admit the full extent of the despair I felt.

Acknowledging your mental health needs is not weakness. In days like these it’s the greatest strength you can show.

As we were putting the pack together we were joined by friends Eliza and Paul from Lives not Knives. Over the summer, as the first lockdown ended, Orbit Housing helped us donate PPE to LNK.  This enabled them to continue their work, taking young people out of some of the most deprived communities in the UK to give them respite breaks.

In some communities, many children were locked up for three months in accommodation where they had less room than prisoners – and less activity too.

LNK at the British museum

Over the summer LNK led trips to the beach in Brighton, and to the British Museum. They also gave the children the opportunity to try sports and games they would otherwise not have had the opportunity to experience.  All of these were possible in the midst of a global pandemic by the PPE we were able to donate, thanks to Orbit.

The impact on the mental health of these children was almost immeasurable and had a significant, positive impact on their protection. The NSPCC found that the lockdown period, with its increase in parental stress, reduction of normal protective services, and an increase in young people’s vulnerability, led to an increase in physical, mental and sexual abuse.  By helping organisations like LNK, Orbit had a direct positive impact on young people’s lives.

PPE Delivery To Key Workers

Amey PLC

The project was to supply 15,500 staff members with a pack containing reusable face coverings, health and wellbeing information and health and safety information during the pandemic.  The project had a secondary focus, helping members of the community experiencing homelessness or mental health issues during the lockdown.

Charlotte Harvey and Emily Davies from Amey meet David, one of the envelope packers. Photo by Andrew Hamilton Thomas

What's in the pack?

Members of staff at Amey received an envelope in the post. That envelope was quite exceptional.  Unlike most padded envelopes it was entirely plastic-free, making it recycled and easily recyclable.  The letter was not franked; instead, each one used a stamp bought from a local post office, supporting the local sub-postmaster. 

Inside the envelope was a letter from Amey Chief Executive Amanda Fisher, a wellbeing guide, guidance on how to put on and remove the face covering safely, a covering in what seemed like a plastic slip and a compliment slip from us telling the story of the person who packed the letter.  The paper on which the information was printed is the lowest carbon paper available in the UK today.  It was printed by the only company to be trusted by Greenpeace, The Carbon Trust and Friends of the Earth. 

The plastic around the covering was a little bit different, too.  That’s because it isn’t a standard vinyl; instead, it is a bioplastic which degrades in less than three months in dark wet conditions. 

The covering was different, as well. It was made, right here in the UK, by Savile Row tailors, who usually make suits for the movie industry. You will have seen their work on Daniel Craig in the James Bond movies or on Peaky Blinders. The material was different too, as Q would have wanted; the mask was three-layer cotton for comfort and breathability, covered with a  Nanotech layer that provides filtration and water resistance. It was durable and will wash 100 times. As for how the letter was packed and who packed it? Well, that’s a whole story in itself. 

Members of staff at Amey received an envelope in the post. That envelope was quite exceptional.  Unlike most padded envelopes it was entirely plastic-free, making it recycled and easily recyclable.  The letter was not franked; instead, each one used a stamp bought from a local post office, supporting the local sub-postmaster. 

Inside the envelope was a letter from Amey Chief Executive Amanda Fisher, a wellbeing guide, guidance on how to put on and remove the face covering safely, a covering in what seemed like a plastic slip and a compliment slip from us telling the story of the person who packed the letter.  The paper on which the information was printed is the lowest carbon paper available in the UK today.  It was printed by the only company to be trusted by Greenpeace, The Carbon Trust and Friends of the Earth. 

The plastic around the covering was a little bit different, too.  That’s because it isn’t a standard vinyl; instead, it is a bioplastic which degrades in less than three months in dark wet conditions. 

The covering was different, as well. It was made, right here in the UK, by Savile Row tailors, who usually make suits for the movie industry. You will have seen their work on Daniel Craig in the James Bond movies or on Peaky Blinders. The material was different too, as Q would have wanted; the mask was three-layer cotton for comfort and breathability, covered with a  Nanotech layer that provides filtration and water resistance. It was durable and will wash 100 times. As for how the letter was packed and who packed it? Well, that’s a whole story in itself.

 

 

Meet the packers

Not everyone in the project wanted to share their stories, and there is so much more to each of them than a few words can describe, but here are some of the people which Amey helped in the course of this project.  These are the people who packed the envelopes.

Lauren is a swimming instructor and content creator on YouTube. COVID-19 meant that Lauren had to move back in with her mum, as she couldn’t afford her house share.  Lauren suffers from mental health issues and, like so many, she has been feeling hopeless. “I have all the time on my hands, and I am trying to find work that benefits the community to keep my mind active. This opportunity has made me feel more positive.”

Louise is an ex-offender who has come on leaps and bounds since arriving at Evolve, and especially since working with the Peer Circles project. She is passionate about animals and nails and has plans to qualify as a nail technician. She is currently on Evolve’s Entrepreneurship Program to develop her ideas and gain support to start her own nail business. She is a mother of two and is committed to leading a more fulfilling and positive life for herself and her family.

Nathan is an ex-offender and has made massive strides in the last 12 months to turn his life around. After completing Evolve’s Entrepreneurship Program and joining the Peer Circles project, he has begun developing an app to help people source, buy and cook with local fresh ingredients using easily accessible recipes. He is also developing a console game that is based on the cultural history of Rastafarians. He is a dedicated father and family man pursuing his dreams and achieving his goals.

Kate is currently homeless. This work opportunity has come at just the right time for Kate, considering the current climate and her on-going circumstances. Kate has a passion for the arts and in the future hopes to be able to set up her own art photography business.

David has turned his life around in the last two years. David has struggled with poor mental health and addiction. After working with Evolve’s Peer Circles project, he is now living independently, working part time, and has become a father to a beautiful little girl. He is dedicated to looking after and providing for his family. David gives back to his community through his church and supporting local causes.

Ricardo is a regular client at Croydon Nightwatch.  He became homeless last year when his employer didn’t pay him. He said: “Becoming homeless is one of the worst things that can happen to someone. I had always paid my own way and suddenly I felt like I had lost everything including my dignity. I don’t want to be reliant on other people’s support, I want to be the one helping others. This is my main motivation for improving myself and making my life better.”   Ricardo wants a full-time permanent job so he can transform his life. He is one of Amey’s Beam Sponsorships.

Jayden has struggled to get work since his seasonal job at Costco ended and has struggled with mental health in the last couple of years. He said: “This lockdown isolation has slowed down my progress in achieving my goals. I feel like I’d benefit from this opportunity as it would give me a sense of self-worth, help me regain my confidence in both myself and the workplace and allow me to interact with others. I genuinely feel like this could give me the boost and motivation I need to reassess and focus on future life goals.”

Ellie is a PE coach, who was made unemployed due to COVID-19. The last two years have been a struggle for Ellie due to a big change in her life. Ellie had been living with her grandparents, but due to the pandemic had to move in with her aunt. She said: “The last 3 months have been a struggle. Not only the money, but getting out and conversing with others. This is going to help me massively.”

Joseph has been out of work since last Christmas. Joseph wants to work in IT and become a web developer. He is looking for an opportunity to be placed with a company where he can work his way up. Due to COVID-19, Joseph has found it harder than ever to find work. His sister is part of Team Ethstat and as we grow, we hope to find work for Joseph to help him on his life’s journey.

Meet the packers

Not everyone in the project wanted to share their stories, and there is so much more to each of them than a few words can describe, but here are some of the people which Amey helped in the course of this project.  These are the people who packed the envelopes.

Lauren is a swimming instructor and content creator on YouTube. COVID-19 meant that Lauren had to move back in with her mum, as she couldn’t afford her house share.  Lauren suffers from mental health issues and, like so many, she has been feeling hopeless. “I have all the time on my hands, and I am trying to find work that benefits the community to keep my mind active. This opportunity has made me feel more positive.”

 

Louise is an ex-offender who has come on leaps and bounds since arriving at Evolve, and especially since working with the Peer Circles project. She is passionate about animals and nails and has plans to qualify as a nail technician. She is currently on Evolve’s Entrepreneurship Program to develop her ideas and gain support to start her own nail business. She is a mother of two and is committed to leading a more fulfilling and positive life for herself and her family.

Nathan is an ex-offender and has made massive strides in the last 12 months to turn his life around. After completing Evolve’s Entrepreneurship Program and joining the Peer Circles project, he has begun developing an app to help people source, buy and cook with local fresh ingredients using easily accessible recipes. He is also developing a console game that is based on the cultural history of Rastafarians. He is a dedicated father and family man pursuing his dreams and achieving his goals.

Kate is currently homeless. This work opportunity has come at just the right time for Kate, considering the current climate and her on-going circumstances. Kate has a passion for the arts and in the future hopes to be able to set up her own art photography business.

David has turned his life around in the last two years. David has struggled with poor mental health and addiction. After working with Evolve’s Peer Circles project, he is now living independently, working part time, and has become a father to a beautiful little girl. He is dedicated to looking after and providing for his family. David gives back to his community through his church and supporting local causes.

Ricardo is a regular client at Croydon Nightwatch.  He became homeless last year when his employer didn’t pay him. He said: “Becoming homeless is one of the worst things that can happen to someone. I had always paid my own way and suddenly I felt like I had lost everything including my dignity. I don’t want to be reliant on other people’s support, I want to be the one helping others. This is my main motivation for improving myself and making my life better.”   Ricardo wants a full-time permanent job so he can transform his life. He is one of Amey’s Beam Sponsorships.

Jayden has struggled to get work since his seasonal job at Costco ended and has struggled with mental health in the last couple of years. He said: “This lockdown isolation has slowed down my progress in achieving my goals. I feel like I’d benefit from this opportunity as it would give me a sense of self-worth, help me regain my confidence in both myself and the workplace and allow me to interact with others. I genuinely feel like this could give me the boost and motivation I need to reassess and focus on future life goals.”

Ellie is a PE coach, who was made unemployed due to COVID-19. The last two years have been a struggle for Ellie due to a big change in her life. Ellie had been living with her grandparents, but due to the pandemic had to move in with her aunt. She said: “The last 3 months have been a struggle. Not only the money, but getting out and conversing with others. This is going to help me massively.”

 

Joseph has been out of work since last Christmas. Joseph wants to work in IT and become a web developer. He is looking for an opportunity to be placed with a company where he can work his way up. Due to COVID-19, Joseph has found it harder than ever to find work. His sister is part of Team Ethstat and as we grow, we hope to find work for Joseph to help him on his life’s journey.

When Amey Came To Croydon

Environmental Campaign Pack To MPs

Smart energy gb

The project was to send environmental campaign packs to all the UK’s Members of Parliament at the House of Commons while promoting the campaign for smarter energy.  The campaign was supported by a social media campaign with the hashtag #PlantingMyPledge.

Environmental Campaign Pack To MPs

Smart energy gb

The project was to send environmental campaign packs to all the UK’s Members of Parliament at the House of Commons while promoting the campaign for smarter energy.  The campaign was supported by a social media campaign with the hashtag #PlantingMyPledge.

Social and Environmental Impact

It is no secret that at Ethstat Ethical Stationery CIC, we believe in using every tool at our disposal to reduce our environmental impact.

Smart metering helps consumers like us to reduce our costs and our environmental impact. Since its inception, we have been staunch supporters of the campaign for smart meters because we believe in their ethical and ecological possibilities.

When Smart Energy GB asked us to help them put together a mailing to go to MPs promoting the importance of their work, we jumped at the chance.

This pack is small but mighty. It is 100% recyclable and biodegradable, has given employment to vulnerable people, and every seed that becomes a tree will contribute to removing CO2 emissions from the environment! Everything that we do has the opportunity to create a smarter future that creates the change we need to restore nature and care for our society better. 

Tree planting is such a simple and effective way to help meet our climate change targets. We’re proud to have partnered with Smart Energy GB and we’d love to see you planting your pledge! Please take a picture and tag @Smart Energy GB on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn, using #PlantingMyPledge.

We curated the lowest carbon pack available in the UK and worked with local charities to help people experiencing homelessness, mental health issues or discrimination. Here is a little about the people the packs impacted.

Elvin is 38 and used to work in the hospitality sector. During lockdown, he lost his job and his life spiralled out of control. Elvin is currently street homeless. He came into our lives in early September 2021 when we met him while serving food to those needing crisis support. We are looking at ways of giving Elvin permanent regular work. We want to help him get his life back on track and see him smiling again.

Maria was born in London in the 1970s and spent 13 years in a children’s home. Like all too many who grew up in similar circumstances, she still experiences mental health issues today. However, work like this helps provide a welcome environment for safe social interaction, and the higher living wage helps Maria feel valued.

Jada worked in the catering industry in the time leading up to lockdown. Catering is an easy way into work, especially for someone as smart as Jada (her GCSEs were a smattering of 6s and 7s), but the work is temporary and the jobs never last long. Jada volunteers mentoring those who, like her, have struggled with mental health issues.

Social and environmental impact

It is no secret that at Ethstat Ethical Stationery CIC, we believe in using every tool at our disposal to reduce our environmental impact. Smart metering helps consumers like us to reduce our costs and our environmental impact. Since its inception, we have been staunch supporters of the campaign for smart meters because we believe in their ethical and ecological possibilities. When Smart Energy GB asked us to help them put together a mailing to go to MPs promoting the importance of their work, we jumped at the chance.

This pack is small but mighty. It is 100% recyclable and biodegradable, has given employment to vulnerable people, and every seed that becomes a tree will contribute to removing CO2 emissions from the environment! Everything that we do has the opportunity to create a smarter future that creates the change we need to restore nature and care for our society better. 

Tree planting is such a simple and effective way to help meet our climate change targets. We’re proud to have partnered with Smart Energy GB and we’d love to see you planting your pledge! Please take a picture and tag @Smart Energy GB on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn, using #PlantingMyPledge.

We curated the lowest carbon pack available in the UK and worked with local charities to help people experiencing homelessness, mental health issues or discrimination. Here is a little about the people the packs impacted. 

Elvin is 38 and used to work in the hospitality sector. During lockdown, he lost his job and his life spiralled out of control. Elvin is currently street homeless. He came into our lives in early September 2021 when we met him while serving food to those needing crisis support. We are looking at ways of giving Elvin permanent regular work. We want to help him get his life back on track and see him smiling again.

Maria was born in London in the 1970s and spent 13 years in a children’s home. Like all too many who grew up in similar circumstances, she still experiences mental health issues today. However, work like this helps provide a welcome environment for safe social interaction, and the higher living wage helps Maria feel valued.

Jada worked in the catering industry in the time leading up to lockdown. Catering is an easy way into work, especially for someone as smart as Jada (her GCSEs were a smattering of 6s and 7s), but the work is temporary and the jobs never last long. Jada volunteers mentoring those who, like her, have struggled with mental health issues.

What's in the pack

We worked with Smart Energy GB to design and specify the pack. Every part of the package was thought through to showcase the best of low carbon British manufacturing and sustainability. The pack was entirely plastic-free and recyclable or home compostable.

Pine tree seed: The Scots Pine is the UK’s only native pine tree, is easy to germinate and grow in a pot, and hardy once planted. The Scots Pine is the ideal starter tree to grow from scratch.

Personal letter: The letter was printed on 100% recycled and recyclable paper, double-sided to minimise waste, printed with vegan soy inks, on a press powered by renewable energy.

Tree seedstick envelope: Printed with Smart Energy GB logo – made in the UK with Scots Pine tree seeds (Pinus Sylvestris).

The plant pot: Each 8cm pot was compostable, organic and made in the UK.

Cardboard box: 100% recycled and made in the UK, made to protect and keep contents safe while not too big to avoid needless waste.

Label: The label was uncoated, recyclable and made in the UK.

Tissue paper: This acid-free paper was entirely home compostable.

We worked with Smart Energy GB to design and specify the pack. Every part of the package was thought through to showcase the best of low carbon British manufacturing and sustainability. The pack was entirely plastic-free and recyclable or home compostable.

Pine tree seed: The Scots Pine is the UK’s only native pine tree, is easy to germinate and grow in a pot, and hardy once planted. The Scots Pine is the ideal starter tree to grow from scratch.

Personal letter: The letter was printed on 100% recycled and recyclable paper, double-sided to minimise waste, printed with vegan soy inks, on a press powered by renewable energy.

Tree seedstick envelope: Printed with Smart Energy GB logo – made in the UK with Scots Pine tree seeds (Pinus Sylvestris).

The plant pot: Each 8cm pot was compostable, organic and made in the UK.

Cardboard box: 100% recycled and made in the UK, made to protect and keep contents safe while not too big to avoid needless waste.

Label: The label was uncoated, recyclable and made in the UK.

Tissue paper: This acid-free paper was entirely home compostable.